annotate docs/WAC2016/WAC2016.tex @ 606:65c7223bd817 Dev_main

Merge
author Nicholas Jillings <n.g.r.jillings@se14.qmul.ac.uk>
date Thu, 10 Mar 2016 17:08:10 +0000
parents 4b98df0aa112
children
rev   line source
b@308 1 \documentclass{sig-alternate}
b@318 2 \usepackage{hyperref} % make links (like references, links to Sections, ...) clickable
b@318 3 \usepackage{enumitem} % tighten itemize etc by appending '[noitemsep,nolistsep]'
d@321 4 \usepackage{cleveref}
b@308 5
b@329 6 \graphicspath{{img/}} % put the images in this folder
b@329 7
b@308 8 \begin{document}
b@308 9
b@308 10 % Copyright
b@308 11 \setcopyright{waclicense}
b@308 12
n@581 13 \conferenceinfo{Web Audio Conference WAC-2016,}{April 4--6, 2016, Atlanta, USA.}
n@581 14 \CopyrightYear{2016} % Allows default copyright year (20XX) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
n@581 15
nicholas@337 16 \newcommand*\rot{\rotatebox{90}}
nicholas@337 17
b@308 18
b@578 19 % Make clickable footnote (Brecht)
b@578 20 \newcommand{\hyperfootnote}[1][]{\def\ArgI{{#1}}\hyperfootnoteRelay}
b@578 21 % relay to new command to make extra optional command possible
b@578 22 \newcommand\hyperfootnoteRelay[2][]{\href{#1#2}{\ArgI}\footnote{\href{#1#2}{#2}}}
b@578 23 % the first optional argument is now in \ArgI, the second is in #1
b@578 24
b@578 25 % Takes at most 3 parameters (see http://www.tex.ac.uk/FAQ-twooptarg.html for info on multiple optional parameters)
b@578 26 % If first parameter isn't given, it's value is '' (empty string in text before footnote reference)
b@578 27 % If second parameter isn't given, it's value is '' (string before visible URL, e.g. 'http://')
b@578 28 % Makes a clickable footnote (alternatively: \url{}) with optional reference in the text as well
b@578 29 % Use 1: \hyperfootnote{www.mywebsite.com}: creates a footnote consisting of a clickable URL
b@578 30 % Use 2: \hyperfootnote[My website]{www.mywebsite.com}: creates a clickable piece of text in the text ('My website') plus a footnote consisting of a clickable URL
b@578 31 % Note: requires the hyperref package.
b@578 32 % Note: using xspace package to add/absorb spaces when necessary (e.g. to avoid a space between the footnote number and a punctuation mark)
b@578 33
b@308 34 %% DOI
b@308 35 %\doi{10.475/123_4}
b@308 36 %
b@308 37 %% ISBN
b@308 38 %\isbn{123-4567-24-567/08/06}
b@308 39 %
b@308 40 %%Conference
b@308 41 %\conferenceinfo{PLDI '13}{June 16--19, 2013, Seattle, WA, USA}
b@308 42 %
b@308 43 %\acmPrice{\$15.00}
b@308 44
b@308 45 %
b@308 46 % --- Author Metadata here ---
b@308 47 \conferenceinfo{Web Audio Conference WAC-2016,}{April 4--6, 2016, Atlanta, USA}
b@308 48 \CopyrightYear{2016} % Allows default copyright year (20XX) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
b@308 49 %\crdata{0-12345-67-8/90/01} % Allows default copyright data (0-89791-88-6/97/05) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
b@308 50 % --- End of Author Metadata ---
b@308 51
b@320 52 \title{Web Audio Evaluation Tool: A framework for subjective assessment of audio}
b@308 53 %\subtitle{[Extended Abstract]
b@308 54 %\titlenote{A full version of this paper is available as
b@308 55 %\textit{Author's Guide to Preparing ACM SIG Proceedings Using
b@308 56 %\LaTeX$2_\epsilon$\ and BibTeX} at
b@308 57 %\texttt{www.acm.org/eaddress.htm}}}
b@308 58 %
b@308 59 % You need the command \numberofauthors to handle the 'placement
b@308 60 % and alignment' of the authors beneath the title.
b@308 61 %
b@308 62 % For aesthetic reasons, we recommend 'three authors at a time'
b@308 63 % i.e. three 'name/affiliation blocks' be placed beneath the title.
b@308 64 %
b@308 65 % NOTE: You are NOT restricted in how many 'rows' of
b@308 66 % "name/affiliations" may appear. We just ask that you restrict
b@308 67 % the number of 'columns' to three.
b@308 68 %
b@308 69 % Because of the available 'opening page real-estate'
b@308 70 % we ask you to refrain from putting more than six authors
b@308 71 % (two rows with three columns) beneath the article title.
b@308 72 % More than six makes the first-page appear very cluttered indeed.
b@308 73 %
b@308 74 % Use the \alignauthor commands to handle the names
b@308 75 % and affiliations for an 'aesthetic maximum' of six authors.
b@308 76 % Add names, affiliations, addresses for
b@308 77 % the seventh etc. author(s) as the argument for the
b@308 78 % \additionalauthors command.
b@308 79 % These 'additional authors' will be output/set for you
b@308 80 % without further effort on your part as the last section in
b@308 81 % the body of your article BEFORE References or any Appendices.
b@308 82
b@316 83 % FIVE authors instead of four, to leave space between first two authors.
n@532 84 \numberofauthors{6} % in this sample file, there are a *total*
b@308 85 % of EIGHT authors. SIX appear on the 'first-page' (for formatting
b@308 86 % reasons) and the remaining two appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@308 87 %
b@308 88 \author{
b@308 89 % You can go ahead and credit any number of authors here,
b@308 90 % e.g. one 'row of three' or two rows (consisting of one row of three
b@308 91 % and a second row of one, two or three).
b@308 92 %
b@308 93 % The command \alignauthor (no curly braces needed) should
b@308 94 % precede each author name, affiliation/snail-mail address and
b@308 95 % e-mail address. Additionally, tag each line of
b@308 96 % affiliation/address with \affaddr, and tag the
b@308 97 % e-mail address with \email.
b@308 98 %
b@308 99 % 1st. author
n@532 100 \alignauthor Nicholas Jillings\textsuperscript{2}\\
n@528 101 \email{nicholas.jillings@mail.bcu.ac.uk}
n@532 102 % 2nd. author
n@528 103 \alignauthor
n@532 104 \alignauthor Brecht De Man\textsuperscript{1}\\
n@532 105 \email{b.deman@qmul.ac.uk}
n@528 106 \and
n@528 107 % use '\and' if you need 'another row' of author names
b@308 108 % 3rd. author
n@532 109 \alignauthor David Moffat\textsuperscript{1}\\
b@308 110 \email{d.j.moffat@qmul.ac.uk}
b@308 111 % 4th. author
n@532 112 \alignauthor Joshua D. Reiss\textsuperscript{1}\\
b@308 113 \email{joshua.reiss@qmul.ac.uk}
n@532 114 \alignauthor Ryan Stables\textsuperscript{2}\\
n@532 115 \email{ryan.stables@bcu.ac.uk}
b@316 116 \and % new line for address
n@532 117 \affaddr{Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science\textsuperscript{1}}\\
b@308 118 \affaddr{Queen Mary University of London}\\
b@308 119 \affaddr{Mile End Road,}
b@308 120 \affaddr{London E1 4NS}\\
b@308 121 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
n@532 122 \and
n@532 123 \affaddr{Digital Media Technology Lab\textsuperscript{2}}\\
n@532 124 \affaddr{Birmingham City University}\\
n@532 125 \affaddr{Birmingham B4 7XG}\\
n@532 126 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
b@308 127 }
b@308 128 %Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
b@308 129 %% 5th. author
b@308 130 %\alignauthor Sean Fogarty\\
b@308 131 % \affaddr{NASA Ames Research Center}\\
b@308 132 % \affaddr{Moffett Field}\\
b@308 133 % \email{fogartys@amesres.org}
b@308 134 %% 6th. author
b@308 135 %\alignauthor Charles Palmer\\
b@308 136 % \affaddr{Palmer Research Laboratories}\\
b@308 137 % \affaddr{8600 Datapoint Drive}\\
b@308 138 % \email{cpalmer@prl.com}
b@308 139 %}
b@308 140 % There's nothing stopping you putting the seventh, eighth, etc.
b@308 141 % author on the opening page (as the 'third row') but we ask,
b@308 142 % for aesthetic reasons that you place these 'additional authors'
b@308 143 % in the \additional authors block, viz.
b@308 144 %\additionalauthors{Additional authors: John Smith (The Th{\o}rv{\"a}ld Group,
b@308 145 %email: {\texttt{jsmith@affiliation.org}}) and Julius P.~Kumquat
b@308 146 %(The Kumquat Consortium, email: {\texttt{jpkumquat@consortium.net}}).}
b@308 147 \date{1 October 2015}
b@308 148 % Just remember to make sure that the TOTAL number of authors
b@308 149 % is the number that will appear on the first page PLUS the
b@308 150 % number that will appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@308 151
b@308 152 \maketitle
b@308 153 \begin{abstract}
b@578 154 Perceptual listening tests are commonplace in audio research and a vital form of evaluation. % ?
b@578 155 While a large number of tools exist to run such tests, many feature just one test type, are platform dependent, run on proprietary software, or require considerable configuration and programming. Using Web Audio, the Web Audio Evaluation Tool (WAET) addresses these concerns by having one toolbox which can be configured to run many different tests, perform it through a web browser and without needing proprietary software or computer programming knowledge. In this paper the role of the Web Audio API in giving WAET key functionalities are shown. The paper also highlights less common features, available to web based tools, such as easy remote testing environment and in-browser analytics.
b@308 156 \end{abstract}
b@308 157
b@308 158
b@308 159 \section{Introduction}
b@317 160
b@317 161 % Listening tests/perceptual audio evaluation: what are they, why are they important
b@317 162 % As opposed to limited scope of WAC15 paper: also musical features, realism of sound effects / sound synthesis, performance of source separation and other algorithms...
b@578 163 Perceptual evaluation of audio, using listening tests, is a powerful way to assess anything from audio codec quality over realism of sound synthesis to the performance of source separation, automated music production and other auditory evaluations.
b@329 164 In less technical areas, the framework of a listening test can be used to measure emotional response to music or test cognitive abilities.
b@329 165 % maybe some references? If there's space.
b@317 166
b@318 167 % check out http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-015-0270-8 - only paper that cited WAC15 paper
b@318 168
nicholas@328 169 % Why difficult? Challenges? What constitutes a good interface?
nicholas@328 170 % Technical, interfaces, user friendliness, reliability
b@578 171 Several applications for performing perceptual listening tests currently exist, see~\Cref{tab:toolboxes}. Many rely on proprietary, third party software such as MATLAB and Max, making them less attractive for many. With the exception of the existing JavaScript-based toolboxes, remote deployment (web-based test hosting and result collection) is not possible.
nicholas@342 172
b@578 173 HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} is an example of a toolbox that presents the user with a large number of different test interfaces and customisation, without requiring knowledge of any programming language. The Web Audio Evaluation Toolbox (WAET), presented here, stands out for the same reasons but in addition does not require proprietary software or a specific platform. It also provides a wide range of interface and test types in one user friendly environment. Furthermore, any test based on the default test types can be configured in the browser as well. Note that the design of an effective listening test further poses many challenges unrelated to interface design, which are beyond the scope of this paper \cite{bech}.
b@317 174
b@317 175 % Why in the browser?
n@576 176 The Web Audio API provides important features including sample level manipulation of audio streams \cite{schoeffler2015mushra} and synchronous and flexible playback. Operating in the browser allows leveraging the flexible JavaScript language and native support for web documents, such as the extensible markup language (XML) which is used for configuration and test result files. Using the web also reduces deployment requirements to a basic web server with extra functionality, such as test collection and automatic processing, using PHP. As recruiting participants can be very time-consuming, and as for some tests a large number of participants is needed, browser-based tests can enable participants in multiple locations to perform the test simultaneously \cite{schoeffler2015mushra}.
b@329 177
b@578 178 Both BeaqleJS \cite{beaqlejs} and \hyperfootnote[mushraJS][https://]{github.com/akaroice/mushraJS} also operate in the browser. However, BeaqleJS does not make use of the Web Audio API and therefore lacks arbitrary manipulation of audio stream samples, and neither offer an adequately wide choice of test designs for them to be useful to many researchers. %requires programming knowledge?...
b@316 179
b@316 180 % only browser-based?
d@321 181 \begin{table*}[ht]
n@334 182 \caption{Table with existing listening test platforms and their features}
nicholas@337 183 \small
n@334 184 \begin{center}
nicholas@337 185 \begin{tabular}{|*{9}{l|}}
n@334 186 \hline
nicholas@337 187 \textbf{Toolbox} & \rot{\textbf{APE}} & \rot{\textbf{BeaqleJS}} &\rot{\textbf{HULTI-GEN}} & \rot{\textbf{mushraJS}} & \rot{\textbf{MUSHRAM}} & \rot{\textbf{Scale}} & \rot{\textbf{WhisPER}} & \rot{\textbf{WAET}} \\ \hline
nicholas@337 188 \textbf{Reference} & \cite{ape} & \cite{beaqlejs} & \cite{hultigen} & & \cite{mushram} & \cite{scale} & \cite{whisper} & \cite{waet} \\ \hline
nicholas@337 189 \textbf{Language} & MATLAB & JS & MAX & JS & MATLAB & MATLAB & MATLAB & JS \\ \hline
b@341 190 \textbf{Remote} & & (\checkmark) & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline \hline
nicholas@337 191 MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534) & & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 192 APE & \checkmark & & & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 193 Rank Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 194 Likert Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 195 ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116) & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 196 -50 to 50 Bipolar with ref. & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 197 Absolute Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@342 198 Degradation Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 199 Comparison Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 200 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 201 ITU-R 5 Continuous Impairment Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 202 Pairwise / AB Test & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 203 Multi-attribute ratings & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 204 ABX Test & & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 205 Adaptive psychophysical methods & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
nicholas@337 206 Repertory Grid Technique & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
b@341 207 Semantic Differential & & & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark &\checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 208 n-Alternative Forced Choice & & & & & & \checkmark & & \\ \hline
n@334 209 \end{tabular}
n@334 210 \end{center}
b@578 211 \vspace{-.5cm}
n@334 212 \label{tab:toolboxes}
nicholas@337 213 \end{table*}
b@578 214
b@316 215 %
nicholas@328 216 %Selling points: remote tests, visualisaton, create your own test in the browser, many interfaces, few/no dependencies, flexibility
b@317 217
nicholas@331 218 %[Talking about what we do in the various sections of this paper. Referring to \cite{waet}. ]
n@576 219 To meet the need for a cross-platform, versatile and easy-to-use listening test tool, we previously developed the Web Audio Evaluation Tool \cite{waet} which was capable of running a listening test in the browser from an XML configuration file, and storing an XML file as well, with one particular interface. This has now expanded into a tool with which a wide range of listening test types can easily be constructed and set up remotely, without any need for manually altering code or configuration files, and allows visualisation of the collected results in the browser. In this paper, we discuss these different aspects and explore which future improvements would be possible.
b@341 220
b@336 221 \begin{figure}[tb]
b@336 222 \centering
b@336 223 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{interface.png}
b@336 224 \caption{A simple example of a multi-stimulus, single attribute, single rating scale test with a reference and comment fields.}
b@336 225 \label{fig:interface}
b@336 226 \end{figure}
b@336 227
nicholas@328 228 \begin{comment}
b@320 229 % MEETING 8 OCTOBER
b@320 230 \subsection{Meeting 8 October}
b@320 231 \begin{itemize}
b@320 232 \item Do we manipulate audio?\\
b@320 233 \begin{itemize}
b@320 234 \item Add loudness equalisation? (test\_create.html) Tag with gains.
b@320 235 \item Add volume slider?
b@320 236 \item Cross-fade (in interface node): default 0, number of seconds
b@320 237 \item Also: we use the playback buffer to present metrics of which portion is listened to
b@320 238 \end{itemize}
b@320 239 \item Logging system information: whichever are possible (justify others)
b@320 240 \item Input streams as audioelements
b@320 241 \item Capture microphone to estimate loudness (especially Macbook)
b@320 242 \item Test page (in-built oscillators): left-right calibration, ramp up test tone until you hear it; optional compensating EQ (future work implementing own filters) --> Highlight issues!
b@320 243 \item Record IP address (PHP function, grab and append to XML file)
b@320 244 \item Expand anchor/reference options
b@320 245 \item AB / ABX
b@320 246 \end{itemize}
b@320 247
b@320 248 \subsubsection{Issues}
b@320 249 \begin{itemize}
b@320 250 \item Filters not consistent (Nick to test across browsers)
b@320 251 \item Playback audiobuffers need to be destroyed and rebuilt each time
b@320 252 \item Can't get channel data, hardware input/output...
b@320 253 \end{itemize}
nicholas@328 254 \end{comment}
b@316 255
b@317 256 \section{Architecture} % title? 'back end'? % NICK
n@334 257 \label{sec:architecture}
nicholas@331 258 %A slightly technical overview of the system. Talk about XML, JavaScript, Web Audio API, HTML5.
b@329 259
nicholas@342 260 Although WAET uses a sparse subset of the Web Audio API functionality, its performance comes directly from it. Listening tests can convey large amounts of information other than obtaining the perceptual relationship between the audio fragments. With WAET it is possible to track which parts of the audio fragments were listened to and when, at what point in the audio stream the participant switched to a different fragment, and how a fragment's rating was adjusted over time within a session, to name a few. Not only does this allow evaluation of a wealth of perceptual aspects, but it also helps detect poor participants whose results are potentially not representative.
nicholas@322 261
b@578 262 One of the key initial design parameters for WAET was to make the tool as open as possible to non-programmers. To this end, all of the user modifiable options are included in a single XML document, referred to as the specification document, that can be written manually (or modifying an existing document or template) or using the included test creator. The test creator can modify existing specification documents or generate new ones in an intuitive yet powerful HTML GUI. This simplifies the creation of elements by visualising the data structure with explanatory text.
nicholas@328 263
nicholas@331 264 %Describe and/or visualise audioholder-audioelement-... structure.
b@578 265 The specification document contains the URL of the audio fragments for each test page. These fragments are downloaded asynchronously in the test and decoded offline by the Web Audio offline decoder. The LUFS integrated loudness of the buffers are calculated \cite{loudness201510} and stored to enable on-the-fly loudness normalisation. If the playback uses synchronous looping, the buffers are zero-padded accordingly. Performing these in the browser removes any need for pre-processing. The resulting buffers are assigned to a custom Audio Objects node which tracks the fragment buffer, the Web Audio \textit{bufferSourceNode}, and other specification attributes including its ID, the interface object(s) associated with the fragment and any metric or data collection objects. The Audio Object is controlled by an over-arching custom Audio Engine node allowing for session wide control of the Audio Objects.
nicholas@322 266
b@578 267 The only significant issue with this model is the \textit{bufferNode} in the Web Audio API, implemented in the standard as a `use once' object. Once the node has been played, it must be discarded as it cannot be instructed to play again. Therefore on each play request the \textit{bufferSourceNode} must be created and then linked with the stored \textit{bufferNode}. This is an odd behaviour with no alternative except to use the HTML5 audio element, but they do not have the ability to synchronously start on a given time and therefore not suited.
nicholas@322 268
b@578 269 In the test, each buffer node is connected to a gain node configured by the loudness normalisation and any user specified gain. Therefore it is possible to perform a `Method of Adjustment' test where an interface could directly manipulate these gain nodes. These gain nodes are used for cross-fading between samples when operating in synchronous playback. Cross-fading can either be fade-out followed by a fade-in, or a true cross-fade. This is achieved by using the AudioParam controls to provide linear ramping from 0 to the calculated playback level. There is also an optional `Master Volume' slider which can be shown on the test GUI to modify a gain node before the destination. The control's position is tracked providing extra test use validation. This is not indicative of the final volume exiting the speakers, though, not least because the browser cannot read the system volume. Therefore its use should only be considered in a lab environment to ensure results are representative.
nicholas@328 270
nicholas@331 271 %Which type of files? WAV, anything else? Perhaps not exhaustive list, but say something along the lines of 'whatever browser supports'. Compatability?
b@578 272 The media files supported depend on the browser level support for the initial decoding of information and is the same as the browser support for the HTML5 audio element. The most widely supported media file is the wave (.WAV) format which is accepted by every browser supporting the Web Audio API. Most browsers support floating point WAV except Firefox. To resolve this, the tool includes its own wave file decoder to extract the samples. The toolbox works in any browser which supports the Web Audio API and HTML 5.
nicholas@322 273
b@578 274 All collected session data is returned in an XML document structured similarly to the configuration document, where test pages contain the audio elements with their trace collection, results, comments and any interface-specific data points.
nicholas@322 275
b@316 276 \section{Remote tests} % with previous?
b@329 277 \label{sec:remote}
b@317 278
n@576 279 If the experimenter is willing to trade some degree of control for a higher number of participants, the test can be hosted on a public web server. This way, a link can be shared widely in the hope of attracting a large amount of subjects, while listening conditions and subject reliability may be less ideal. However, a sound system calibration page and the range of metrics logged mitigate these problems. In some experiments, it may be preferred that the subject has a `real life', familiar listening set-up, for instance when perceived quality differences on everyday sound systems are investigated.
b@317 280 Furthermore, a fully browser-based test, where the collection of the results is automatic, is more efficient and technically reliable even when the test still takes place under lab conditions.
b@317 281
b@315 282 The following features allow easy and effective remote testing:
b@578 283 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep] % replaced description list with itemize as it went outside the margins
b@578 284 \item \textbf{PHP script to collect result XML files} and store on central server.
b@578 285 \item \textbf{Randomly pick a specified number of pages} to ensure an equal and randomised spread of the different pages across participants.
b@578 286 \item \textbf{Calibration of the sound system (and participant)} by a perceptual pre-test to gather information about the frequency response and speaker configuration - this can be supplemented with a survey.
nicholas@322 287 % In theory calibration could be applied anywhere??
b@329 288 % \item Functionality to participate multiple times
b@329 289 % \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@329 290 % \item Possible to log in with unique ID (no password)
b@329 291 % \item Pick `new user' (generates new, unique ID) or `already participated' (need already available ID)
b@329 292 % \item Store XML on server with IDs plus which audioholders have already been listened to
b@329 293 % \item Don't show `post-test' survey after first time
b@329 294 % \item Pick `new' audioholders if available
b@329 295 % \item Copy survey information first time to new XMLs
b@329 296 % \end{itemize}
b@578 297 \item \textbf{Intermediate saves} for tests which were interrupted or unfinished.
b@578 298 \item \textbf{Collect IP address information} for geographic location, through PHP function which grabs address and appends to XML file.
b@578 299 \item \textbf{Collect browser and display information} to the extent it is available and reliable.
b@578 300 \end{itemize}
b@315 301
b@308 302
b@316 303 \section{Interfaces} % title? 'Front end'? % Dave
b@329 304 \label{sec:interfaces}
d@321 305
b@578 306 The purpose of this listening test framework is to allow any user the maximum flexibility to design a listening test for their exact application with minimum effort. To this end, a large range of standard listening test interfaces have been implemented, including
d@321 307 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@578 308 \item AB Test~\cite{lipshitz1981great}: Two stimuli presented simultaneously, participant selects a preferred stimulus.
b@578 309 \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116} (Mean Opinion Score: MOS): each stimulus has a continuous scale (5-1), labeled as Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, Slightly annoying, Annoying, Very annoying.
n@576 310 \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref: each stimulus has a continuous scale -50 to 50 with default values as 0 in middle and a reference.
n@576 311 \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: Likert but labels are Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent
n@576 312 \item ABX Test~\cite{clark1982high}: Two stimuli are presented along with a reference and the participant has to select a preferred stimulus, often the closest to the reference.
n@579 313 \item APE \cite{ape}: Multiple stimuli on one or more axes for inter-sample rating.
n@579 314 %\item APE style 2D \cite{ape}: Multiple stimuli on a 2D plane for inter-sample rating (e.g. Valence Arousal).
b@578 315 \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: ACR \& DCR but 7 point scale, with reference: Much better, Better, Slightly better, About the same, Slightly worse, Worse, Much worse.
b@578 316 \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: ABC \& Likert but labels are (5) Inaudible, (4) Audible but not annoying, (3) Slightly annoying, (2) Annoying, (1) Very annoying.
n@576 317 \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}: Same as ABC/HR but with a reference.
b@578 318 \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}: each stimulus has a five point scale with values: Strongly agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly disagree.
b@578 319 \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
nicholas@342 320 \begin{comment}
nicholas@332 321 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 322 \item Multiple stimuli are presented and rated on a continuous scale, which includes a reference, hidden reference and hidden anchors.
d@321 323 \end{itemize}
nicholas@342 324 \end{comment}
n@576 325 \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}: every stimulus is rated as being either better or worse than the reference.
nicholas@342 326 \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}: stimuli ranked on single horizontal scale, where they are ordered in preference order.
b@578 327 \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}: each stimulus has a seven point scale with values: Like extremely, Like very much, Like moderate, Like slightly, Neither like nor dislike, Dislike extremely, Dislike very much, Dislike moderate, Dislike slightly. There is also a provided reference.
d@321 328 \end{itemize}
d@321 329
b@578 330 It is possible to include any number of references, hidden references, hidden anchors and comment fields into all of these listening test formats.
d@321 331
b@578 332 Because of the design to have separate core code and interface modules, it is possible for a third party interface to be built with minimal effort. The repository includes a boilerplate (blank.js) and documentation on which functions must be called and the specific functions they expect your interface to perform. The core includes an `Interface' object which includes object prototypes for the on-page comment boxes (including those with radio or checkbox responses), start and stop buttons and the playhead / transport bars.
n@326 333
d@321 334 %%%% \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 335 %%%% \item (APE style) \cite{ape}
d@321 336 %%%% \item Multi attribute ratings
d@321 337 %%%% \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
d@321 338 %%%% \item Interval Scale~\cite{zacharov1999round}
d@321 339 %%%% \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}
d@321 340 %%%%
d@321 341 %%%% \item 2D Plane rating - e.g. Valence vs. Arousal~\cite{carroll1969individual}
d@321 342 %%%% \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}
d@321 343 %%%%
d@321 344 %%%% \item {\bf All the following are the interfaces available in HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} }
d@321 345 %%%% \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116}
d@321 346 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 347 %%%% \item Continuous Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)
d@321 348 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 349 %%%% \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref
d@321 350 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 351 %%%% \item Scale -50 to 50 on Mushra with default values as 0 in middle and a comparison ``Reference'' to compare to 0 value
d@321 352 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 353 %%%% \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
d@321 354 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 355 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent (Default fair?)
d@321 356 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 357 %%%% \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
d@321 358 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 359 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Inaudible, Audible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?) - {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR?}
d@321 360 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 361 %%%% \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
d@321 362 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 363 %%%% \item 7 point scale: Much Better, Better, Slightly Better, About the same, slightly worse, worse, much worse - Default about the same with reference to compare to
d@321 364 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 365 %%%% \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}
d@321 366 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 367 %%%% \item 9 point scale: Like Extremely, Like Very Much, Like Moderate, Like Slightly, Neither Like nor Dislike, dislike Extremely, dislike Very Much, dislike Moderate, dislike Slightly - Default Neither Like nor Dislike with reference to compare to
d@321 368 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 369 %%%% \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}
d@321 370 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 371 %%%% \item 5 point Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)- {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR, or Different named DCR}
d@321 372 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 373 %%%% \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}
d@321 374 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 375 %%%% \item 2 point Scale - Better or Worse - (not sure how to default this - they default everything to better, which is an interesting choice)
d@321 376 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 377 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 378
n@326 379 % Build your own test
nicholas@340 380
nicholas@328 381 \begin{comment}
d@321 382 { \bf A screenshot would be nice.
d@321 383
d@321 384 Established tests (see below) included as `presets' in the build-your-own-test page. }
nicholas@328 385 \end{comment}
b@308 386
b@308 387 \section{Analysis and diagnostics}
b@329 388 \label{sec:analysis}
b@317 389 % don't mention Python scripts
b@329 390 There are several benefits to providing basic analysis tools in the browser: they allow diagnosing problems, with the interface or with the test subject; they may be sufficient for many researchers' purposes; and test subjects may enjoy seeing an overview of their own results and/or results thus far at the end of their tests.
b@578 391
b@329 392 For this reason, we include a proof-of-concept web page with:
b@318 393 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@578 394 \item All page IDs, file names, subject IDs, audio element IDs, ... in the collected XMLs so far
b@329 395 \item Selection of subjects and/or test samples to zoom in on a subset of the data %Check/uncheck each of the above for analysis (e.g. zoom in on a certain song, or exclude a subset of subjects)
b@329 396 \item Embedded audio to hear corresponding test samples % (follow path in XML setup file, which is also embedded in the XML result file)
b@578 397 \item Scatter plot, confidence plot and box plot of rating values (see Figure \ref{fig:boxplot})
n@334 398 \item Timeline for a specific subject %(see Figure \ref{fig:timeline})%, perhaps re-playing the experiment in X times realtime. (If actual realtime, you could replay the audio...)
n@334 399 \item Distribution plots of any radio button and number questions in pre- and post-test survey %(drop-down menu with `pretest', `posttest', ...; then drop-down menu with question `IDs' like `gender', `age', ...; make pie chart/histogram of these values over selected range of XMLs)
b@312 400 \item All `comments' on a specific audioelement
n@334 401 \item A `download' function for a CSV of ratings, survey responses and comments% various things (values, survey responses, comments) people might want to use for analysis, e.g. when XML scares them
n@334 402 %\item Validation of setup XMLs (easily spot `errors', like duplicate IDs or URLs, missing/dangling tags, ...)
b@312 403 \end{itemize}
b@312 404
b@578 405 \begin{figure}[tbh]
b@578 406 \centering
b@578 407 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{boxplot.png}
b@578 408 %\caption{This timeline of a single subject's listening test shows playback of fragments (red segments) and marker movements on the rating axis in function of time. }
b@578 409 \caption{Box and whisker plot showing the aggregated numerical ratings of six stimuli by a group of subjects.}
b@578 410 \label{fig:boxplot}
b@578 411 \end{figure}
n@334 412
nicholas@331 413 %A subset of the above would already be nice for this paper.
b@578 414 \section{Concluding remarks}
b@329 415 \label{sec:conclusion}
b@341 416
n@576 417 We have developed a browser-based tool for the design and deployment of listening tests, requiring no programming experience or proprietary software. Following the predictions or guidelines in \cite{schoeffler2015mushra}, it supports remote testing, cross-fading between audio streams, collecting information about the system, among others.
b@341 418
b@578 419 Whereas many other types of interfaces do exist, we felt that supporting e.g.~a range of `method of adjustment' tests would be beyond the scope of a tool that aims to be versatile enough while not claiming to support any custom experiment one might want to set up. Rather, it supports intuitive creation of non-adaptive listening tests up to multi-stimulus, multi-attribute evaluation including references, anchors, text boxes, radio buttons and/or checkboxes, with arbitrary placement of the various UI elements, and many standard test `presets' already available.
b@308 420
b@578 421 The code and documentation can be downloaded from the \hyperfootnote[SoundSoftware repository][https://]{code.soundsoftware.ac.uk/projects/webaudioevaluationtool}.
b@317 422 % remote
b@317 423 % language support (not explicitly stated)
b@317 424 % crossfades
n@327 425 % choosing speakers/sound device from within browser? --- NOT POSSIBLE, can only determine channel output counts and its up to the hardware to determine
b@317 426 % collect information about software and sound system
b@317 427 % buttons, scales, ... UI elements
b@317 428 % must be able to load uncompressed PCM
b@317 429
b@308 430 %
b@308 431 % The following two commands are all you need in the
b@308 432 % initial runs of your .tex file to
b@308 433 % produce the bibliography for the citations in your paper.
nicholas@340 434 \bibliographystyle{ieeetr}
nicholas@342 435 \small
b@308 436 \bibliography{WAC2016} % sigproc.bib is the name of the Bibliography in this case
b@308 437 % You must have a proper ".bib" file
b@308 438 % and remember to run:
b@308 439 % latex bibtex latex latex
b@308 440 % to resolve all references
b@308 441 %
b@308 442 % ACM needs 'a single self-contained file'!
b@308 443 %
b@308 444 \end{document}